East Carolina University archaeologists have made a remarkable discovery in the Cape Fear River, identifying what they believe to be the remains of La Fortuna, an 18th-century Spanish privateer ship that exploded during a 1748 battle. The ship, which was part of the larger King George’s War conflict in North America, attacked the port of Brunswick Town before detonating near the wharves. As reported by Fox News Digital, the discovery was made by a team from East Carolina University’s maritime studies program during a summer field school. The site is located near Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson, a historically significant region in North Carolina.
Jeremy Borrelli, a staff archaeologist for ECU’s maritime studies program, shared that the team recovered 63 wooden timbers, with 47 believed to be from La Fortuna. He noted that the wreck was rediscovered due to a combination of luck and the ship’s proximity to the river’s mud, which allowed it to break away within weeks of the survey. Borrelli emphasized that the discovery provided a rare opportunity to examine an 18th-century ship, with many of the timbers remaining remarkably intact due to preservation conditions. “Each timber is remarkably preserved, and most still retain original tool marks from the shipwright to shape the tree into frames or planking,” he explained.
The site also yielded additional findings, including the wreck of a flatboat, which has provided valuable context into the day-to-day trade during the colonial period. Moreover, the team uncovered a vessel likely used for landfill retention and another one yet to be identified. Alongside the shipwreck, hundreds of artifacts were found, including ceramic pieces, glass bottles, clay tobacco pipes, and a cooper’s adze, barrel heads, and staves. Sailcloth, leather shoes, possible clothing fragments, and a butchered animal bone were also recovered at the site, providing further insight into life during the 18th century.
Borrelli highlighted the importance of the discovery in understanding colonial maritime history. “This discovery shows the importance of protecting historic places and the finite cultural resources within them,” he said. The team is currently analyzing the remains, with conservationists at ECU working to preserve the artifacts. While the preliminary findings are promising, Borrelli acknowledged there is still much work to be done. “This will allow us to analyze the shipwreck as it was originally situated on the riverbed and compare the site to other 18th-century ships to determine what type of watercraft it might be,” he added. The findings are expected to provide a deeper understanding of the port town’s vulnerability to attack and the use of wrecked ships in shaping the early development of North Carolina.